Effectiveness of Distal Sodium Channel Blocks in Managing Cervical Radiculopathy.

Abstract

Objective: To find the effectiveness of distal sodium channel blocks (DSCB) in managing cervical radiculopathy.

Study design: Open-labelled single-group pilot study. Place and Duration of the Study: Pain Clinic of the Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from January to June 2022.

Methodology: Patients with cervical radiculopathy with non-inflammatory pain, presenting within six months of disease onset, aged between 18-50 years, were included. Numerical rating scale (NRS) scores for pain were noted down at baseline and at 30 minutes, 24 hours, and 1 week post (DSCB). DSCB was performed at Alpha 1, Alpha 2, Alpha 3, and Alpha 4 using 2 ml of 2% plain lignocaine + 1 ml Kenacort + 7 ml distilled water = 10 ml solution of 0.4% lignocaine; 2.5 ml indicated at each of the four sites.

Results: Out of 30 patients, 13 (43.3%) were females and 17 (56.6%) were males. The mean age of patients was 43 ± 7.0 years. No serious procedural complications were noted except a few. Post-DSCB, follow-up was done for one week. A significant fall in NRS was observed at every visit. Results were statistically significant (p <0.001) when pre-NRS was compared with post-DSCB NRS at 30 minutes, 24 hours, and 1 week.

Conclusion: DSCBs have become yet another reliable choice for pain management without the requirement for any particular environment. Even after one week of follow-up, the patients' NRS pain scores were significantly decreased.

Key words: Cervical radiculopathy, Epidural spinal injection, Pain management, Upper limb pain.